14 cats die in house fire in Florida's Panhandle

Published July 19th, 2014

SHALIMAR, Fla. - Fourteen cats were killed in a house fire in Florida's Panhandle.

Ocean City-Wright Fire Control District Deputy Chief Scott Funchess says firefighters were called to the Shalimar home Thursday afternoon when the owner returned home and saw smoke coming from the roof.

Funchess says firefighters' efforts were impeded by the amount of things stored in the home. He also says that firefighters could not get more than 15 feet inside the house and were forced to fight the fire through the roof.

Funchess says the homeowner rescued one cat and firefighters rescued two more, but 14 other cats died in the blaze.

One firefighter was taken to a hospital with a minor injury. The State Fire Marshal is investigating the fire.